A virtual event series, held throughout 2021, aims to shine a light on the strengths of the Midlands life sciences sector as well as the role it can play in tackling COVID-19, delivery of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy and adoption and innovation within the NHS.
The Midlands Life Science Symposium will bring together stakeholders from across the Midlands region with interests in health and life sciences research, local industrial strategies, medical technologies, innovation and who work in academia, business, clinical settings and in regional and local government.
It is hoped that the event series, run by Midlands Innovation and sponsored by Midlands Engine Health, will culminate in an in-person conference proposed for autumn 2021. This event series will showcase our region’s sector leadership and explore how excellence can be harnessed to address global healthcare challenges for increased wellbeing and productivity.
The Midlands’ life sciences sector is at the forefront of research and development and is home to the highest number of Medical Technologies companies of any region in the UK, generating £1.6 billion for the UK economy and boasting over 30,000 jobs. Our region is also home to two of the largest UK NHS Trusts and seven leading Medical Schools which collectively train 20% of the UK’s medical students.
In addition, the Midlands represents the second-largest Clinical Trials cluster in Europe with participants drawn from a stable, ethnically diverse population of over ten million citizens making it the ideal testbed for global health and multimorbidity interventions.
The Symposium got underway with a pair of events in February. The first event, held on 25 February and convened by the Midlands Innovation Immunology Network, presented the latest research into COVID-19 whilst the following day, the University of Leicester hosted a networking event aimed at helping successful businesses access funding sources, the post-Brexit regulatory environment and its possible impact on innovation.
The series continues in March with a patient and public involvement and engagement event taking place on the 15-17 March entitled: ‘Beyond COVID-19: New directions for Public Involvement in Health and Social Care Research in the Midlands’.
Further events will be announced in due course.
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